Locked On Giants – Daily Podcast On The San Francisco Giants

Locked On Giants is normally all about the data, with of course a heavy dose of passion mixed in. But on today's episode, things switch gears in a dramatic way. Javier Reyes of Locked On Padres joins the show and each host describes the players on his respective team that fans have disliked the most in recent seasons.

From the San Francisco Giants' side of things, players like Mark Melancon, Tommy La Stella, a couple of hot-headed relievers, and many others are discussed at length. Explored are the reasons why fans dislike them.

For the Padres, there are some names that might surprise SF Giants fans, including Eric Hosmer, who somehow has a reputation in the game for being a really good player, even though he was just awful for San Diego. Locked On Giant host Ben Kaspick goes so far as to call Hosmer the most overrated player in baseball in the last three decades.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

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The San Francisco Giants officially added Jorge Soler over the weekend, but does it mean they're done spending money? Farhan Zaidi met with the media and said something that could be interpreted two different ways. On its face, he said that the Giants making more significant additions was "unlikely" due to where we are in the calendar. On the other hand, Zaidi said, "Anybody who’s a free agent, we’ve theoretically had three and a half months to figure out a deal and if it hasn’t happened yet, at some point organizationally, you just need to turn the page and focus on the players you have" (courtesy of The S.F. Chronicle). That comment could suggest that the SF Giants have simply been unwilling to meet Scott Boras' high asking prices.

Notoriously, Boras has four of the top free agents from this class who are still unsigned: Blake Snell, Matt Chapman, Cody Bellinger, and Jordan Montgomery. It's not clear whether or not the Giants are done spending, but their current projected payroll of about $164M is right in line with where it's been every year over the last five years, except for 2023 when it was about $30 million higher. That catch? Last year, every team received $30 million from MLB due to its $900 million sale of BAMTech to Disney. So the Giants may in fact be operating under a self-imposed cap of about $165 million.

Switching gears, Pablo Sandoval—yes, the Panda himself—is in major league camp as a non-roster invitee. It's a completely risk-free move and not a publicity stunt. Sandoval wants to play in the big leagues again, and he is in really good shape and has been playing professionally in Dubai and Mexico in recent years. Sandoval expressed a willing to go to the minor leagues and a desire to mentor young players such as Marco Luciano and fellow Venezuelan Luis Matos.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

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The San Francisco Giants have had a busy and productive offseason, even if the focus is on who they did not sign, and that those top two targets—Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto—ended up on the Dodgers. The SF Giants have signed Jung Hoo Lee, Jordan Hicks, Jorge Soler (pending a physical which takes place today, per Susan Slusser of the SF Chronicle), and Tom Murphy. They've traded for Robbie Ray, who's rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and traded away underperforming players such as Mitch Haniger, Anthony DeSclafani, and Ross Stripling.

Yet despite all this business and productivity, it's hard to shake the feeling that the Giants are one big piece or two away from being legitimate contenders. Luckily, however, it's February 16th and there are still four top free agents on the market. And there's no reason to believe the Giants are done just yet, unless they come out and say something to that effect once their deal with Soler is finalized.

Pairing Blake Snell at the top of the rotation with Logan Webb is so tantalizing. The duo finished first and second, respectively, in NL Cy Young voting this past season. Adding a Matt Chapman to solidify third base is also intriguing. Both Snell and Chapman have played for new Giants manager Bob Melvin and seem like obvious fits. In other news, the SF Giants' (non-related) trade acquisition of Otto Lopez is discussed.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

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Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.

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The Giants last won a postseason series in 2016. And it wasn't really even a series; it was a single-elimination wild card game. San Francisco Giants fans are restless and tired of waiting for a winner. That's why it doesn't make sense for the SF Giants to sit out this remaining free agent class in order to wait for next year's class, even though it's a deeper group with some really big name players mixed in (Juan Soto, anyone?). But as we've seen time and time again, there's also zero guarantee of signing a player even if you pull out all of the stops to do so.

Among the other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of the Locked On Giants podcast:

What's a realistic benchmark for a positive season for the Giants as currently constructed?

What, if anything, gives you confidence in this front office's ability to win?

Are the SF Giants a .500 team? If they were to sign some of the top remaining free agents, such as Blake Snell and Matt Chapman, how many wins would that add to the team?

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

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🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

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Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.

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New customers, join today and you’ll get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your first bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.

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Jorge Soler is a member of the San Francisco Giants. Er, not officially. The SF Giants' deal with Jorge Soler, which was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser, is for three years and $42 million and pending a physical. Those last few words are scary for Giants fans, but all deals are contingent on passed physicals and no one should expect a repeat of the Carlos Correa situation.

Soler brings huge power to the Giants. He led MLB in home runs in 2019 with 48. Soler added 36 more last season. The SF Giants haven't had a player hit 30 or more home runs in a season since Barry Bonds in 2004. Jorge Soler, with three seasons to play with, has a good chance of finally breaking that streak. The Giants won't be platooning Soler, for those wondering. And it's not just because Gabe Kapler is out and Bob Melvin is in.

Jorge Soler won't be platooned because he's good against both lefties and righties. Since 2019, his isolated power is insanely high against lefties—over .300—and he sports a very high on-base percentage against them as well. He's not as prolific against righties, but has still produced at a level about 10% above the MLB average against them in the last five seasons.

On top of all the numbers, Soler adds a ton of personality and flare to what has been a dull SF Giants team in recent years. His arrival doesn't have a huge immediate impact on the Giants' roster, but if the San Francisco Giants continue to add, which they ought to do—at least providing some insurance for Marco Luciano at shortstop—they may need to make a trade or two to clear space.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

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Jorge Soler would make the San Francisco Giants' lineup better. But at what point does the asking price become too much? For Soler, it's probably not about average annual value. He should get ≥ $12 million a year and ≤ $18 million. So there's not a huge range there, and if the Giants are truly interested, they can likely agree on that front. However, as MLB Network's Jon Morosi reports, teams, including the SF Giants, are balking at Soler's desire for a third guaranteed year. Given Jorge Soler turns 32 on Feb. 25, it's not too surprising that the Giants and other teams are hesitant to hand out that guaranteed third year, and with Spring Training report week finally here, there's pressure on Soler and other free agents to make a decision soon.

It's worth pointing out that ESPN, MLB Trade Rumors, and FanGraphs all predicted that Soler would land a three-year deal worth somewhere between $37.5 million and $45 million. However, the FanGraphs readers, with their crowdsourced submissions, had an average contract prediction of around 2.5 years, which sort of exemplifies where we stand now. The SF Giants love their club options, so something like 2/$33 million with a third-year team option could perhaps get a deal done.

In other news, the Giants signed hard-throwing lefty Amir Garrett to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. Garrett will ear $1.35 million if he makes the major league team. Left handed relief is something of a soft spot on the SF Giants' 40-man roster, and the erratic Garrett will enter camp firmly in the midst of the competition to join Taylor Rogers as another lefty in the major league 'pen.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

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🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

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Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.

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ZiPS' median projection for the San Francisco Giants is 82 wins. While not exactly exciting—or really at all exciting—an 82-win projection puts the Giants right in the thick of the NL playoff picture. The Braves and Dodgers stand alone at the top, each projected to win 92+ games. Then there are ten(!) teams projected to win between 79-85 games. At 82, the SF Giants' projection starts to look like they have a pretty decent shot at the postseason. But each additional win would mean so much, so the Giants must continue to add. Even as Spring Training is less than a week away, four $100M+ players remain available to sign in free agency, not to mention the trade market which features fits like Willy Adames.

Switching gears, ESPN's Top 100 Prospects list is analyzed. Marco Luciano gets one of the rosier scouting reports we've seen among the Top 100 lists looked at so far this offseason, with Kiley McDaniel saying that scouts believed Luciano has improved enough defensively to be adequate at short. That flies in the face of so many reports we've read about him absolutely not being a shortstop. McDaniel also says Luciano has the potential to be a star shortstop capable of hitting 30 homers.

Likewise, Kyle Harrison gets a nice ranking that includes a prediction that he'll throw 100-150 innings in the majors this year with flashes of brilliance at the very least, but the potential to come out of the gates hot and put together a Rookie of the Year campaign. Also appearing on ESPN's list: LHP Carson Whisenhunt and OF/1B/P Bryce Eldridge, the SF Giants' first-round pick in 2023. In other news, J.D. Davis defeating the Giants in arbitration is also discussed.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

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Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.

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New customers, join today and you’ll get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your first bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.

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Logan Webb is a top-10 pitcher in major league baseball. The San Francisco Giants are lucky to have him anchoring their rotation for years to come. But beyond Webb, the Giants' current projected rotation is extremely inexperienced. The most experienced of the bunch, Jordan Hicks, has very little experience as a starting pitcher! The rest of the SF Giants' projected starters are young players looking to make their name in the game. Do the Giants need to add pitching after Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, and Anthony DeSclafani have all found new homes?

Among the other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of the Locked On Giants podcast:

Given how the Giants were reportedly aggressively involved in the Corbin Burnes trade market, doesn't that alone suggest they are still searching for a top of the rotation arm to complement Logan Webb to start the 2024 season?

Is it possible to get Jorge Soler and Matt Chapman? Or is it one of them and another starter?

Is it realistic to think the Giants will land both Soler and Chapman? Or is it a situation of just one?

Is Luis Matos going to be a starter on Opening Day?

Do you enjoy the SF Giants' brand of baseball?

Are you happy with the direction of this team?

Do you think this ownership is committed to winning - as in, is it a priority?

What grade do you give the Giants for this offseason?

What stat do you value most when evaluating pitchers?

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Gametime

Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.

FanDuel

New customers, join today and you’ll get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your first bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.

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If the San Francisco Giants had the chance, should they trade Keaton Winn straight up for Willy Adames? They absolutely should, even though Winn has a bright and exciting future. The Giants could really use a true shortstop, and who better than a talented hitter and elite defender who's only 28? Adames fits the SF Giants extremely well, and the Giants have a surplus of young pitching. It might take more than that to land Adames, but he's a player the Giants should definitely be targeting.

Among the other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of the Locked On Giants podcast:

Why are so many people asking for Adames instead of FINALLY seeing what we have in Marco Luciano?

Thoughts on Joc Pederson liking that post about the city?

Now that Joc's gone who has the most swagger on the team?

What are a few examples of ways the front office has integrated differing viewpoints into their decision-making processes, compared to last season?

Are you proud of the Giants organization? Are you proud to be a Giants fan right now, or were you proud to be a Giants fan back when the organization was run differently (Bochy Era), and just hopeful that it will get back to something to be proud of?

Do you think a couple of signings/moves are imminent after they can add Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray to the 60-day IL on 2/14?

If you were Farhan Zaidi would you rather pay 6/$180M for Blake Snell or trade for Jesus Luzardo in a prospect package costing at least Carson Whisenhunt or possibly Marco Luciano as the top player back to Miami?

Ok real question, do you think the 107-win season was actually the worst thing that happened for the SF Giants' long-term strategy, soft rebuild (reset?), Zaidi & Gabe Kapler game plan?

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The San Francisco Giants have been the definition of mediocre over the last two seasons. The Giants finished exactly 81-81 in 2022, an exactly .500 record for the first time in franchise history. They were two games worse than than in 2023. So it's fitting, and a bit concerning, that the SF Giants project at exactly 81.0 wins in 2024 according to PECOTA. The good news is that there's still a lot of talent out there and the Giants could significantly improve their standing in what figures to be a National League with quite a bit of parody outside of LA and Atlanta.

Switching gears, Keith Law's Top 100 prospects list is discussed. Law considers Kyle Harrison to be the SF Giants' best prospect, and one of the top prospects in baseball. He views him as a No. 2 starter right now and a potential ace if he can tighten up his command or refine his breaking ball. Also appearing on Law's Top 100 are Marco Luciano (who disappointingly falls into the 80s) and Bryce Eldridge, the SF Giants' first-round pick in 2023.

Finally, with 51 days until Opening Day, Jung Hoo Lee—who will wear No. 51—is discussed. In particular, a range of projections for Lee are assessed. What's amazing about all of the different projections for Lee is how similar they are. There is a narrow range of projected outcomes in key metrics like AVG, OBP, SLG, wRC+, WAR, and K%. All of the systems view the Giants' top addition as a solidly above-average player.

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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

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